with light

Kia Ora (hello, in Māori)​
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​A summary of our newsletter this week:
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🌱 Google's free library of courses to support job search
🌱 Visions of 'dreaming' across time & species
🌱 Global photography career program for university students
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with light,
Jasmine & Kuhlekonke
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​Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up to get your own copy of The Bloom to your inbox with the latest impact jobs and resources 💌

fresh soil

🌍 Tackling climate change with carbon capture: Earlier this year, Elon Musk pledged a 100M$ prize for a carbon capture solution, and investments towards it have skyrocketed. But what exactly is carbon capture and how does it work? Two climate entrepreneurs from Helsinki and Oman discuss their different approaches to carbon capture. → Podcast​
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🌍 Hundreds of free online courses to power job search: Google for Education has created a digital library to help job seekers. They have everything from great resume templates you can use to courses on getting better at using Google to search for jobs. → Library​
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🌍 Decolonizing global media coverage: Earlier this month, the International Journalism Festival took place in Italy. Our favorite panel discussed the theme of decolonized media: What does it mean to do international journalism differently in the wake of the movement for racial justice? Does the notion of a "foreign correspondent" even make sense anymore? → Panel

water your soul

🌤 Ancestral dreams.
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🚲 9.3 million paths.
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🔮 In the wordless.
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💸 Finance, illustrated.
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🌳 Get lost.
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🧬 5 levels of gravity.

community garden

Spotted in our garden this week is The Bloom's first contributor article by our Chinese-American bloomer, Vanessa Meng! She's a music and yoga teacher, writer, and jewellery maker, pursuing an MA in Applied Psychology. This is her reflection to our open call for articles on Joy 💚 ​
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​A Short Meditation with a Plant
​by Vanessa Meng

There is a relationship between the stories we weave about the natural world around us, and our sense of self in the world. Our world’s dominant views of nature derive from Darwinism. In Darwin’s Origin of Species, nature exists in a constant battle for resources, a painful struggle for survival.

Nature is also painted as an objective judge that selects who is worthy to move on to the next generation. In Darwinism, plants and animals look the way they look, do the things they do, only because they have to, because it is necessary to their survival.

This view of nature is linked to how our current late-stage capitalist world regards living as whole. Our education and workforce system have similar language and structure. We have to be selected, we have to compete with our peers and we have to work hard in order to survive. But is there a way we can open up and shift our narrative of nature, and therefore how we live in this world to invite more joy, more beauty, more pleasure, and more kindness?

1. Pick a specific plant to observe that's physically accessible to you
2. Write down what you notice about the plant, such as the way it is leaning, any interesting branches, what kind of shape it is, any reasons for a particular angle
3. Give yourself at least 5 minutes of observation time
4. Review your observations, ask yourself: What kind of narrative do you see? Do you see yourself in the way you described the plant? Would you like to shift, or redirect your way of seeing?

My favorite tree to visit in April is a weeping cherry tree. It's a tree with the most beautiful flowing branches, reaching upwards in big waves. Because of their willow genetics the branches all eventually curve downwards and divide into these thin hanging branches like hair. When the wind blows they sway gently like windchimes.

The texture of the bark is rough, jagged and cracked skin towards the bottom. A deep scar from a previous branch now gone, protruded from the side. It healed over with the same skin, but the shape still hints at a trauma.

The flowers bloom only for a few weeks in April, in bouquets of six or seven. Each flower is composed of layers upon layers of gossamer petals; individually they are almost white, but stacked together there are pink hues. When the wind blows, they are not afraid to let go. Every petal fearlessly vulnerable.

My narrative shift began to change when noticing the trees around me. I found myself reflecting on my Chinese heritage, and family. My family, just like most, have fought to survive, and needed to fight for a long time. We were caught in the Darwinist narrative, in the continuous “climb upwards” where my worth of survival was tied to the next validating marks and achievements. But from the plants I observed how survival should only ever be part of the story. Unlike us humans, the plant’s story is manifested in its becoming, every trauma, in its physical form. The weeping cherry trees are filled with deep gashes and wounds and yet, they continue reaching for the light, relishing in the journey of healing, growing, and blooming. 🌸

branch out

⛵️ EXPLORE
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​Online climate learning academy.
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​TikTok leader for jobs in tech for "non-techies."
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New multi language LGBTQI+ terminology guide.
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Tips for job interview prep questions.
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🦋 GROW​
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For independent musicians – apply to YouTube Music’s global artist development program that gives you access to resources to thrive on YouTube and build careers on your own terms.
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A scholarship for a data science and web development bootcamp in Tokyo.
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Advance your photography career with the Canon Student Development Program open to university students worldwide.
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​One Young World Award for youth working towards SDG 7 (sustainable development/renewable energy) ~ $50,000 prize + more!
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​Schwarzman Scholars Program is a fully funded master's program in Beijing for emerging leaders.
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For marginalized students in USA – 6 education scholarships to help you attend college.
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Youth from any African country can apply for the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship for fully funded study in South Africa.

sponsored seeds

Applications are open for the MovingWorlds Institute Fellowship! The career fellowship helps you gain the confidence, connections, and hands-on experience to launch or grow your social impact journey. Apply by April 30th to join their global network of changemakers.

spicy flowers

🌶 Embrace your string.
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🌶 Peak into ethical porn.*sponsored ​
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🌶 The clit song.

grow new roots

ASIA + OCEANIA​
🇦🇺
🌱Digital comms specialist – Women's Legal Service
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​EUROPE ​
🇬🇧
🌱News & politics reporter – OpenDemocracy​
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​AFRICA + MIDDLE EAST ​
🇳🇬
🌱Social media & design intern – Change.org​
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​LATIN AMERICA
🇺🇾​
🌱Investigative reporting fellowship for Latin America – OpenDemocracy​
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​NORTH AMERICA​
🇺🇸
🌱Advocacy associate – Airbnb​
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REMOTE
🌍
​🌱Mapping & research consultants – South Feminist Futures ​
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Much love to our sponsors this week 🖤

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